Which tablet for 2012? iPad 3 vs. ASUS Infinity Prime HD vs Windows 8 Tablet

[bwthomas77]

I am currently in a dilemma on what to get. I have decided to get a tablet but need some guidance from an informed crowd as what would be best.

What I want: Light weight, high definition tablet, excellent battery life, good resale value, compatabile with windows media player, apps that are designed for tablet, browsing.

What I think thus far:
iPad 3
Pros - A high demand item that will retain its value, currently available, excellent app selection, Nice form factor, specs comparable to others.
Cons - iTunes. No expandable memory or HDMI output.

ASUS Infinity Prime Transformer HD (or whatever they name it)
Pros - Keyboard and expandable battery, similar specs to ipad 3, nice form factor, HDMI and expandable memory, compatable with WMP and no iTunes.
Cons - Unsure of android app market, Resale value?, Unsure of availability - probably June, Unclear if GPS and Wifi issues resolved or if other issue will crop up.

Windows Tablet 8
Pros - there seems to be a buzz about W8 that it is going to be really good, clearly compatible with WMP, otherwise don't know enough to say.
Cons - Long wait to hit market. Alot of uncertainty. Essentially no "app" market.

So basically I am torn between iPad and Asus. If W8 tablet is best thing since sliced bread I will sell and buy W8 tablet. I don't really want to wait for ASUS. But, I HATE iTunes.

Any comments, commentary, recommendations, or other thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Lyfer]

I'm waiting for the Asus Megatron Optimus Prime Infinity Maxx Turbo B3 Spider Edition myself.

 

[Dominato3r]

The iPad 3 screen is amazing, and I were buying a tablet right now, I'd get that for the screen alone. Windows 8 is interesting but there's no hardware out right now so it's a waiting game.

 

[MaxFusion16]

iPad

Btw, it does have hdmi output, along with AirPlay.

 

[hans007]

I'd get the prime just to not have to use iTunes and be able to access my files in codecs I want them in. I mean the iPad 2 had those limitations and the new one still has those just with a nicer screen.

I am not particularly in love with metro UI. Just seems overly text and straight edge filled. I'm sure its very functional but it just seems so unappealing .

So I guess that leaves the transformer but if probably see what Samsung real tablet will be since I doubt the galaxy note 10 is their flagship

 

[alent1234]

The iPad sPecs blow

 

[Phobic9]

Android still needs serious help in the tablet-based apps category. I'm really curious to see what and how Google plans to address this. There's more to a tablet than specs and while I'm still not the biggest fan of iTunes I've owned every version of the iPad now and it's getting better. Either that or I'm locked in their garden...or both.

 

[alent1234]

Unless you plan to load your own music and video to it you don't need iTunes

 

[runawayprisoner]

Even if you plan on loading videos, iTunes still won't be necessary. There are apps on the iPad that allow videos to be transported over WIFI.

 

[jkyle]

Sold my transformer prime and bought the ipad 3 and glad I did. I really liked the prime but had the issues where I had to install a wireless router upstairs to get decent throughput and the GPS is basically non functional. The Ipad 3 on the other hand just works. The screen is a work of art the sharpness of text is amazing. Still miss some of the flexibility of ICS but am finding workarounds to most everything. I also debated on waiting on Win 8 Tablets but decided even if i did wait until the end of the year for one it would be months to a couple of years before it had even a semi decent app market.

 

[Deeko]

I'm waiting for the fall to get a new tablet. Windows 8 is intriguing, so we'll see what the market brings. Hopefully the hardware manufacturers step up their game and bring some high quality stuff. Considering Samsung is making the iPad's most talked about feature (tye screen) you would hope they could bring something of similar quality for win8 and android...

 

[senseamp]

Considering the last black Friday tablet deals, I'd wait till fall, unless you want the iPad.

 

[Lonyo]

I want a Windows 8 x86 tablet.
Don't see why (apart from probably cost) anyone would bother with an ARM Windows 8 tablet. And maybe the battery life will be somewhat better.
But I'd rather have a real computer when the UI is the same.

 

[senseamp]

I want a Windows 8 x86 tablet.
Don't see why (apart from probably cost) anyone would bother with an ARM Windows 8 tablet. And maybe the battery life will be somewhat better.
But I'd rather have a real computer when the UI is the same.

It's going to be a real Atom based computer though.
Go to MS store and look at the Win7 x86 slates they got there. They are thick, heavy, and generally unpleasant, even aside from the software. You could run desktop x86 apps on it, but it's not going to be a good experience. With the ARM version, you are guaranteed that the apps are going to be those that are designed and optimized for the mobile processor specifically, not Core i5.

 

[bwthomas77]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going with the iPad3. After CES reviews I was convinced I was going with the newest ASUS (from Hasbro).

Reasons I'm going with iPad: #1 Apps. #2 Availability #3 Resale value.

I guess there is a reason AAPL is at $580+...

so I guess I will just deal with iTunes, ugh.

 

[Mopetar]

so I guess I will just deal with iTunes, ugh.

You really don't need to use iTunes if you don't want to. iOS has OTA updates now and there are other ways to get content on to your device. Runawayprisoner posted this suggestion for videos in another thread.

 

[smartpatrol]

Good choice. iPad absolutely dominates when it comes to apps, and especially games. Almost all apps go to iOS first, then maybe the devs will release an Android version later on.

 

[bwthomas77]

Placing order as I type this for iPad.

I looked at thread for transferring videos to ipad without iTunes. It looks like it may be a bit of a pain, but potentially useful.

My biggest frustration is that I have all of my music (relatively) well organized on WMP. Are there any work arounds for transferring music that has WMP playlists and star ratings to iPad?

Thanks

 

[Mopetar]

Placing order as I type this for iPad.

I looked at thread for transferring videos to ipad without iTunes. It looks like it may be a bit of a pain, but potentially useful.

My biggest frustration is that I have all of my music (relatively) well organized on WMP. Are there any work arounds for transferring music that has WMP playlists and star ratings to iPad?

Thanks

Not sure if it will work directly with WMP, but you can export playlists from WMP without much hassle and a quick Google search turned up a handy program that will sync ratings and playcounts between WMP and iTunes, so you'd get all of your data and really only need to use iTunes once to get all of your music onto the iPad.

Once a jailbreak for the new iPad comes out, there are several other programs that you can use to sync content with you iPad. I suppose the real question is what kind of things do you want to sync?

 

[you2]

If the ipad 3 supported a micro sd card (or even a regular sd card) I might consider it as an option but since it does not; it is not useful for how *I* use a tablet.

Given that issue the two tablets on my radar are the ASUS Infinity Prime HD and the Samsung 7.7 wifi only (you can import this without warranty today but I would prefer a usa model). Hum. I did hear rumor of an 11.5 inch hd samsung; and if those rumours become fact in the near future I would also consider that model.
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Basically I use the tablet for email/web/movies when I travel hence the absolute requirement for sd slot; while I do have a few apps they are not a requirement in my purchase decision. The 7.7 samsung woudl actually be used for a different purpose and that is as a book reader (the amoled screen holds up quite well in very bright light).
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[Rottie]

I think you should go with iPad for good reason....Good battery last 10+ hours. and if you want iPad hooks to HMDI enabled TV..look no farther...

http://www.amazon.com/GSI-Quality-Ad...2117229&sr=8-3